Today’s Pickup: South Africa violence highlights deadly campaign against foreign truckers

“Groups of people claiming to be South African truck drivers have thrown gasoline bombs at trucks and shot at, stoned, stabbed and harassed foreign truck drivers to force them out of the trucking industry,” HRW wrote. 

Leaders of an organization connected to some attackers, All Truck Drivers Foundation, told HRW that it is against the employment of undocumented foreign drivers. 

The violence has been indiscriminate, and trucking companies have said they need to hire foreign drivers because of the lack of quality local drivers, particularly for the transport of hazardous materials. 

Drivers for foreign-based carriers also have been targeted. The Zambian government advised drivers on Sept. 2 to avoid South Africa until the violence subsides.

Did you know?

Vehicles registered in the United Kingdom will need to display a “GB” sticker while traveling in Ireland and other EU countries after Brexit, according to the British government. 

Quotable:

“That’s around 165k Goods Vehicles & Trailers that would have to adhere to any new frivolous cross border rules and red tape … utter nonsense.”

– Seamus Leheny, policy manager of the Freight Transport Association in Northern Ireland, tweeting about the “GB” sticker requirement.

In other news:

U.S. export outlook looks really bad

The United States export outlook reached its lowest point on Bloomberg’s Trade Tracker. (Bloomberg)

Rhenus Group acquires U.K. road freight provider PSL Group

German logistics company Rhenus Group acquires U.K.’s PSL Group for an undisclosed sum. (The Load Star)

$146 million in heroin seized from ship in UK

About 1.4 tons of heroin were discovered in a cargo of towels on a container ship docked in Suffolk. (CNN)

Pharmacy chain tests drone deliveries

Test flight paves the way for drone deliveries of pharmaceuticals in British Columbia. (The Georgia Straight)

Trucking exempt from new schedule and shift notice rules in Canada

The trucking industry is exempt from new Canadian federal rules that require employers to give 96 hours of written notice for work schedules and 24 hours’ notice for shift changes. (Truck News) 

Final thoughts:

Human Rights Watch found that South African employers have done little to protect foreign drivers, and in some cases have fired them. One company fired 39 drivers from Zimbabwe, all of whom had valid work permits, according to HRW’s report. Others have been asked to stay home.  

The South African government has done little thus far to address this. But the latest spate of violence has gotten more attention and drew condemnation from other African leaders. Hopefully, it will mark the beginning of a reprieve for those truckers whose work can be hazardous even on a good day. 

Hammer down, everyone!